Liam Payne's Body Released to Family to Be Flown Back to U.K. 3 Weeks After Pop Star's Death: Prosecutor

Mar. 15, 2025

Liam Payne in London in December 2019.Photo:David Fisher/Shutterstock

David Fisher/Shutterstock

Liam Payne’s body has been returned to his familyfollowing his Oct. 16 death, Argentinian officials confirm.

The body of theOne Directionstar — who died last month following a fall from a third-floor balcony of a Buenos Aires hotel — has officially been released to his family to be flown back to the U.K., Argentina’s National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Officeannounced Thursday, Nov. 7 as part of a statementon the ongoing investigation into Payne’s death.

The return of Payne’s body had been pending toxicology and laboratory tests. The preliminary autopsy report found that he died from multiple injuries and “internal and external” hemorrhages, the National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor’s Officepreviously confirmedto PEOPLE.

Sources also confirmed toABC Newsat the time that a partial autopsy revealed that Payne “had multiple substances in his system” when he fell from his balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel and died at age 31.

Liam Payne in Madrid in May 2018.Vitor De Los Reyes/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Vitor De Los Reyes/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

In Payne’s toxicology report, Argentinian authorities revealed that moments before his death and in the period of at least his last 72 hours, the singer had traces of “polydrug use of alcohol, cocaine and a prescription antidepressant in his body.”

Since Payne’s death, multiple projects have remained up in the air — including a posthumous collaborative single from Sam Pounds that wasultimately canceled out of respect for the singer’s family, and Netflix’s upcoming music competition seriesBuilding the Band, which starred Payne alongsideNicole Scherzinger,Kelly RowlandandAJ McLean. A source told PEOPLE back in October that it wastoo soon to make any decisionsregarding the future of the series.

Liam Payne in London in January 2018.Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty

Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty

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Payne’s One Direction bandmatesZayn Malik,Niall Horan,Harry StylesandLouis Tomlinsonhave all paid tribute to their late friend in individual Instagram posts and via a group statement shared last month.

“In time, and when everyone is able to, there will be more to say. But for now, we will take some time to grieve and process the loss of our brother, who we loved dearly,” they statement read.

It ended: “The memories we shared with him will be treasured forever. For now, our thoughts are with his family, his friends, and the fans who loved him alongside us. We will miss him terribly. We love you Liam.”

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.

source: people.com